Wednesday, March 10, 2010

The days without her

The last time it happened, I was a final-year University student. It was during exams - the time I needed her the most. But I lost her. She slipped out somehow. I felt handicapped in her absence. Maybe she was fed up with me. Probably pissed off with my incessant requests and favours. I dunno. I was looking for her everywhere like Moondram Pirai Kamal searching for the mentally-challenged Sridevi. Remember that scene? Balu Mahendra was a legend. Like that scene in Moondram Pirai, my search for her had a happy ending. I got her back when I heard the librarian read out her name over the PA system asking her to be collected. The librarian added in her usual grumpy tone that her owner has kept THE most annoying ringtone she has ever heard. My cell-phone. My darling. I got her back then.

Fast forward 3 years...

This time I left her in the cab. I perhaps didn't search for her like Moondram Pirai Kamal...but it was more like Nagarjuna in Idhayathai Thirudathey. I hopped from one place (read: cab office) to another in a Jeep till late in the night searching for my 97-gram chellam. The only thing that lifted my spirits after going through buckets of ownerless phones was the realisation that I wasn't the only idiot to leave a mobile phone in a taxi. There are bucket loads of us!

The next day I decided to punish myself by not rushing out and buying another handset. Suddenly phoneless I wondered how I'd cope. I felt uneasy to step out of the house. It felt like going out without any pants on. Still, I ventured out. Every now and then, I'd tap my pant pocket to check for the non-existing phone. oh yes. no phone. yea, fantastic!

The following day, I felt slightly liberated. I slowly found out why. Firstly, I didn't have to worry about answering calls when I was in the Mens room. I strongly I believe I share a toilepathic connection with most people who have my mobile number. The blimming thing, yes my mobile, would stay quiet for hours on my desk and ring the moment I step into echo chamber that is the office loo. "Hi! yes. I am good thanks. Hey, listen, umm...can I call you right back? I may sound as if I am speaking sitting inside a big empty drum or something, but I'm actually in the toilet". The caller would pause momentarily, then mumble an apology while my mind will go into overdrive imagining the caller rushing off to wash their hands. Ahh..personal hygiene. I likey!

The urge to check for txts and missed calls every 3.12 minutes remained, but with no mobile, it was slowly but surely fading.

While travelling to work next day, I couldn't help but to observe the mobile in everyone. I saw people in the streets, in the train, with their hands clasped to their ears. I experienced a feeling of disconnection. It felt like I was living in a bubble. A strange sense of freedom enveloped me. I floated like a butterfly basking in this glorious isolation. It was a curiously gratifying sensation!

On a serious note, I got my mobile back the next day. Thanks to the gentleman who returned it. Mate, you are a gem!


--

Aside:

After linking the clip from Moondram Pirai in the first para, I watched the whole movie again. I am glad I did. Watta masterpiece by Balu Mahendra. I heard Kamal Hassan won a National award for it but Sridevi didn't. Even the Kamal fan in me reckons Sridevi deserved the award more than Kamal. She was simply brilliant as Viji. Perhaps people were bowled over by Kamal's performance in the climax scene. Honestly, I cant think of any current Indian actress who could match or better Sridevi's performance. Ms Mukharjee? or Mrs Saravanan? Hmm...I doubt it.

Like every blue-blooded Kannadasan fan, I love Kanne Kalaimaaney song for its lyrics. However, I like Poongatru Pudhidhanadhu song better both for its music & visuals. It does not have profound lyrics like Kanne Kalaimaane. But there is something about this song - is it Ilaiyaraja's music or Yesudas's voice or Balu Mahendra's photography or cute moments like where Sridevi tries to listen to the train sound from thandavaalam (railway track) through Kamal's ears...I dont know. The whole package...it's just beautiful.







18 comments:

  1. Sadhiraatam is infact the right word I guess..It actually refers to Bharathanatyam.

    But YD is known for mispronouncing. Remember "Therukk Kovile odi vaa?"

    ReplyDelete
  2. you might find this interesting:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3AlHxr_YZg

    I'm sure u mite have seen this before but i dint know the video's are not exactly same.

    ReplyDelete
  3. ashwin,

    so he did pronounce it right :)
    "Therukk Kovile odi vaa?" - haha. yes i remember that song. that's a classic! :)

    kamana,

    yup. ive seen that video. they did decent job remaking the song.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dude,

    Welcome to the club!!

    It was my first phone,very attached to it for some reasons and i lost it in bus (http://realnirmal.blogspot.com/2005/06/those-20-mins.html)

    Dude atleast in your case,somebody was nice enough to return it!!

    Lost phone :) Lost her ;)

    I guessed it intially it was something and not exactly a girl ;)

    Yes dude, i second your views. Sridevi was brilliant she too deserved ..but man..seeing Kamal's climax performance...it was a obvious choice to give him!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hey Sriram, how are you? Hope you had a wonderful trip to Madras:-).

    Hey, moonram pirai is such a masterpiece.....The song are soulful....I really love Kamal's expression of helplessness in his love with the mentally challenged woman....what an acting!!!!

    Looks like you are enjoying your new found freedom like "en pondatti oorukku poita"!!! Hope u get ur mobile back.

    Take Care....

    ReplyDelete
  6. Going without the mobile is a huge blessing. I have discovered it too. Havent been able to continue it for long though.

    The one thing that i have done is to go on silent mode ( not vibrator ) most of the time. Atleast, the ring doesnt pierce through the silence of the loo !! :)

    Moonram Pirai..who doesnt like it !?! What a performance !

    ReplyDelete
  7. what-a-comparison!:) I'm glad your mobile & you were re-united. Lucky you.

    I love the song 'poongatre' too..has a very haunting tune I feel! I feel Kamal Hassan deserved the award a teeny-weeny bit more than Sridevi..just for that last scene. But when I see the entire movie, even I get confused!:-S

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  8. Rav,

    Glad that you got your mobile back!:)
    I am happy that you haven't blamed your client for losing her ;)

    Take care(of her)!

    ReplyDelete
  9. that song is WAY too melodramatic and depressing for me!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Nirmal,

    read your post. yep, i am super lucky that someone returned it.

    " Lost phone :) Lost her ;) " - summa oru extra effect-ku dhaan :D



    Viji,

    trip was awesome. lol @ pondaati ooruku poitaa reference.


    Kavi,

    thanks! :)


    lostworld,

    true. kamal's acting in the last scene was quite something. i feel Sridevi deserved the national award atleast for not treading into the zone of overacting.

    Swetha,

    avala pathukaren. don't worry Sis.

    Anjana,

    :)

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  11. Poongatru pudhidaanadhu.Totally nostalgic.Thanks:)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Are you referring to Jyothika as Mrs Saravanan?
    Yes, Kanne Kalaimaaney is beautiful. The legend's last masterpiece!
    Avala nallaa paathukongha! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yaa. good movie. watched it long time back, you?

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    2. i watched it a few times! She acted so well in the movie!!!

      Delete
    3. Sowmya, I couldnt read your blog. adhey 'Permission denied' message again. Tweaking different blogger setting, are you? :P

      Delete
  13. Yea.. Sarie, slowly learning!! :)

    ReplyDelete